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County hears report on high-school law-enforcement introduction class tied to sheriff's office
Summary
Officials heard an informational report about an introductory law-enforcement class for high-school juniors and seniors that uses a college-level textbook, invites agency speakers and aims to give students exposure to law-enforcement careers; instructors reported enrollment and follow-on student choices.
The Goodhue County board received an informational report on an introductory law-enforcement class taught at a local high school and associated with the sheriff's office.
The instructor said the program is in its second year, runs for one semester in the second half of the academic year and had 12 students last year and 12 this year. The class uses a college-level introductory criminal-justice textbook as a foundation and brings in speakers from local law-enforcement agencies. "We had 12 students last year. I have 12 again this year," the instructor said. The instructor added that two students went directly into a law-enforcement program at college after the class and several others intended to pursue criminal-justice or law-enforcement programs.
The instructor said the curriculum covers a broad overview of the field (what the speaker called a "thousand-foot view") including history and structure of law enforcement, differences among municipal, county and state agencies, state statute basics, patrol operations, traffic stops, investigations, report writing, interview and interrogation techniques, and court testimony. The instructor said the course exposes students to a range of career paths by inviting representatives from the sheriff's office, local police departments, Minnesota State Patrol, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and, in one instance, a Secret Service agent.
Board members asked about expansion; the instructor said the program is being discussed for potential adoption in Pine Island with the school resource officer there, but no firm timeline was given. This was presented as information only; the board did not take formal action on the item during the meeting.
